If you’ve ever had a disagreement with someone that escalated to the point where you felt like your anger was about to boil over and get out of control, you were most likely in strife. As part of being human, we’ve all felt that way at one time or another. Strife is emotionally painful, and has the potential to destroy us. Learning how to recognize and deal with it keeps us safe.
Strife is a vigorous, bitter conflict, antagonism toward someone else, intense jealousy, or an angry quarrel with another person. It can destroy families, relationships, and even entire churches. It can break up marriages, businesses, and all that God’s grace is trying to do. Wherever envying and strife show up, confusion and every evil work follow.
Diffusing strife allows God’s blessings to operate in our lives. In the Old Testament, Abraham dealt with it wisely when it caused arguments between the herdsman for his cattle and Lot’s cattle. It may initially have appeared that Lot was getting the better land, but God blessed Abraham abundantly because of the integrity he displayed.
Strife prevents us from making progress in life because it blocks God’s intervention. Self-centeredness is one way it originates, but it’s impossible to be in strife when we walk in love. Putting Him in the center of the situation instead of ourselves shields us from this dangerous emotion. God is love; bringing Him into the situation means strife has to go.
Pride, which is a refusal to submit to God’s plans for us, is another source of strife. A proud heart stirs up strife, but the person who trusts in the Lord will prosper. God loves us, and angry striving against each other isn’t His will for us. Hatred stirs up strife, but loves covers all sins.
God wants to deliver us from emotional turmoil. In the same way He delivered David from Saul and from strife with his people, He’ll deliver us from its toxic effects. Trusting Him on this brings us peace.
Prayer:
Lord, Your will is for us to experience peace, not strife, in our lives. Walking in Your Word helps us to do that, and we’re grateful for this. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
James 3:16
Genesis 13:7-17
1 John 4:8, 16
Proverbs 28:25, NKJV
Proverbs 10:12
2 Samuel 22:44, AMPC